Servomechanism for optical disk system

Abstract

 An optical disk system comprises a laser system (12) for optically reading a signal track on an optical disk (16) by means of a laser beam so as to generate an electrical read-­out signal, and a servo system (14) receiving the read-out signal from the laser system (12) for controlling the laser system (12) so as to cause the laser system (12) to trace the signal track on the optical disk (16). A drive power changing circuit (30) is coupled to the servo system (14) to selectively put the servo system (14) either into a first condition in which a driving power of the servo system for controlling the laser system (12) is limited not greater than a predetermined level or into a second condition in which the driving power of the servo system for controlling the laser system is not limited.

Description

Background of the Invention

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical disk system, and more particularly, to a servomechanism used in the optical disk system for causing a laser beam to trace a signal track on a optical disk.

Description of related art

[0002] Conventional optical disk players have been such that a signal track on an optical disk is scanned by a laser spot, which is held in focus and on track by various servomechanisms using optical sensing and electromechanical actuation. Further, such optical disk players are adapted to detect dust particles and scratches on the optical disk on the basis of a signal read out from the disk by the laser beam, and to make a servo system off, when the particles and scratches are found, so as to prevent malfunction of the servo system which would otherwise be caused by the particles and scratches on the disk.

[0003] The above mentioned conventional optical disk players have been complicated in circuit construction since it has to include a circuit for detecting the particles and scratches on the optical disk. In addition, the conventional players did not have been completely free from detection errors such as an oversight of the dust particles and scratches and a misdetection as the particles and scratches. Further, as mentioned above, when the particles and scratches are found, the servo system is made off. Thereafter, if either the particle or the scratch becomes to not found, the servo system is returned to an on condition. Then, the servo operation has been greatly disturbed as an reaction of the momentary off of the servo system, so that the signal track of the disk cannot be often traced.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disk system which has overcome the above mentioned defect of the conventional one.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical disk system capable of tracing a signal track on the optical disk without being influenced by the particles and scratches on the optical disk.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is to provide such an optical disk system which is capable of tracing a signal track on the optical disk without the necessity of a circuit detecting the particles and scratches on the optical disk.

[0007] A still further object of the present invention is to provide such an optical disk system which is capable of tracing a signal track on the optical disk without malfunction caused by the particles and scratches on the optical disk, while maintaining the servo operation in an active condition.

[0008] The above and other objects of the present invention are achieved in accordance with the present invention by an optical disk system comprising a laser system for optically reading a signal track on an optical disk by means of a laser beam so as to generate an electrical read-out signal, a servo system receiving the read-out signal from the laser system for controlling the laser system so as to cause the laser system to trace the signal track on the optical disk, and means coupled to the servo system to selectively put the servo system either into a first condition in which a driving power of the servo system for controlling the laser system is limited not greater than a predetermined level or into a second condition in which the driving power of the servo system for controlling the laser system is not limited.

[0009] As seen from the above mentioned arrangement, when the servo system is in a servo operation condition capable of controlling the laser system, the servo system is put in the first condition. Under the first condition, since the driving power of the servo system is limited below the predetermined level, the servo system cannot move the laser system to an extreme. Therefore, even if the particles or scratches exist on the optical disk, the laser system will trace the signal track on the optical disk without going out of the signal track.

[0010] In the conventional system, when the servo system operates in a stable condition, if the particles or scratches on the optical disk are found, the servo system has often malfunctioned because of the particles and scratches, with the result that the servo system erroneously drives the laser system to an extreme. This is one reason for the mis-tracing of the conventional optical system caused when the particles and scratches on the optical disk are found. In the above mentioned optical disk system in accordance with the present invention, on the other hand, the driving power of the servo system is limited not greater than the predetermined level, the servo system cannot so move the laser system as to go out of the signal track to be traced even if the particles or scratches exist on the optical disk. Namely, the laser system will trace the signal track on the optical disk without going out of the signal track.

[0011] On the other hand, when the servo system should be rendered on so as to become capable of controlling the laser system, i.e. when the servo system should be in a linear response fashion, the servo system is put in the second condition in which the driving power of the servo system is not limited at all. Therefore, the servo system can quickly move the laser system to a required amount so that the laser system can rapidly driven to a position capable of properly tracing the signal track.

[0012] Further, as can be understood from the above mentioned arrangement, the optical disk system in accordance with the present invention will not need a circuit for detecting the particles and scratches on the optical disk. Therefore, the circuit construction will become simple as compared with the conventional ones, and also can be free from the detection error of the particles and scratches on the optical disk.

[0013] In addition, the optical disk system in accordance with the present invention is free from the unstable operation caused when the servo system is returned to the on condition after the servo operation had been rendered off in response to the detection of the particles or scratches on the optical disk

[0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] 

Figure 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the optical disk system in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the servo system incorporated in the optical disk system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the drive power changing circuit incorporated in the servo system shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a more detailed block diagram of the drive power changing circuit shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a a waveform diagram illustrating an operation of the optical disk system incorporating the drive power changing circuit shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the servo system incorporated in the optical disk system shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a detailed block diagram of the drive power changing circuit incorporated in the servo system shown in Figure 6;

Description of the Preferred embodiment

[0016] Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an embodiment of the optical disk system, more specifically the optical disk player in accordance with the present invention, which comprises a disk rotating system 10, a laser system 12 and a servo system 14 which cooperate to trace a signal track formed on an optical disk 16. As shown, the rotating system 10 operates to rotate the optical disk 16 under control of a signal processing circuit 18. On the other hand, the laser system 12 reads a train of signals formed on the optical disk as a track composed of convexes and concaves (pits). This reading of the signal track is made by use of a laser beam in a non-contact manner, and the read-out signal is fed to the servo system 14 as a control data and the signal precessing circuit 18 as a reply data. In response to the read-out signal, the servo system 14 controls the laser system 12 so that the focus of the laser beam does not go out of the signal track on the optical disk.

[0017] The signal processing circuit 18 treats the signal read out from the optical disk by the laser system 12 and outputs the treated signal to a system control circuit 20. The system control circuit 20 controls the servo system 14 and the signal processing circuit 18.

[0018] The above mentioned construction is well known to persons skilled in the art, and therefore, a detailed explanation of construction and operation will be omitted on portions which do not directly relate to the gist of the present invention.

[0019] In the shown embodiment, differently from the conventional optical disk system, the system control circuit 20 generates a drive power changing signal 22 in accordance with the condition of the servo system or if desired. The drive power changing signal 22 is applied to the servo system 14 so that the drive power of servo system which is applied for moving the lens of the laser system 12 is limited below a predetermined level or value.

[0020] Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a block diagram of one embodiment of the servo system 14. The shown servo system has a digital type of loop filter which compensates the degree of amplification and the phase in a specified frequency region.

[0021] The output of the laser system 12 is supplied to a detector 24, which generates an error signal indicative of a deviation of the focus position from a proper position of the signal track on the optical disk. The error signal is fed to an analog to digital converter 26, and a converted signal is inputted to a digital loop filter 28. An output of the filter 28 is supplied to a drive power change circuit 30. This drive power change circuit 30 further receives the drive power change signal from the system control circuit 20, and operates under control of the drive power change signal to selectively output the output of the digital loop filter as it is or in a limited fashion. The thus adjusted output from the drive power change circuit 30 is inputted to a digital to analog convertor 32, whose output is applied to a drive circuit 34 for driving the laser system 12. Accordingly, a servo loop is constituted.

[0022] Turning to Figure 3, there is shown a detailed block diagram of the drive power change circuit 30 shown in Figure 2. The shown circuit has a pair of input selectors 36 and 38 which receive at their one input the data 40 outputted from the loop filter 28. An output of the selector 36 is coupled to the other input of the input selector 38. When the drive power change signal 22 is active, the selector 38 outputs the output of the selector 36 as an output data 52 to the digital to analog convertor 32. On the other hand, when the drive power change signal 22 is not active, the selector 38 outputs the input data 40 to the digital to analog convertor 32.

[0023] Further, the input data 40 is also fed to an absolute value conversion circuit 42, which generates an absolute value signal to one input of a comparator 44. This comparator 44 receives at its other input a predetermined value stored in a memory 46 and outputs the result of comparison to a control input of the input selector 36. The predetermined value stored in the memory 46 is also supplied to a sign addition circuit 50, and the input data 40 is also fed to a sign detection circuit 50 which generates a sign signal indicative of a sign of the input data 40. This sign signal is applied to the sign addition circuit 48, which outputs the sign-added predetermined value to the other input of the input selector 36. Thus, when the comparator 44 judges that the input data 40 is not greater than the predetermined value stored in the memory 46, the input selector 36 outputs the input data 40 to the input selector 38. To the contrary, when the comparator 44 judges that the input data 40 is greater than the predetermined value stored in the memory 46, the input selector 36 outputs the sign-added predetermined value from the sign addition circuit 48 to the input selector 38.

[0024] As mentioned above, when the drive power change signal is not active, the input data 40 is supplied to the digital to analog convertor 32 without being limited. Namely, the drive power is not limited at all. However, when the drive power change signal is active, the data supplied to the digital to analog converter 32 is limited below the predetermined value set in the memory 46, since the predetermined value is supplied in place of the input data 40 when the input data 40 is greater than the predetermined value.

[0025] If the drive power supplied to the drive circuit 34 is limited not greater than the predetermined value, an accelerating speed of the lens of the laser system 12 is also limited below a corresponding predetermined value. Therefore, when the focal point of the laser beam traces the signal track on the optical disk, even if the particles and/or scratches are found on the optical disk and the detector 24 accordingly generates a large error signal, the lens of the laser system 12 will not be driven to an extreme, and accordingly, the focal point of the laser system will not greatly deviate from the signal track on the optical disk to be traced.

[0026] On the other hand, if the drive power of the drive circuit 15 is not limited, when the focal point of the laser beam of the laser system 12 is greatly deviated from the signal track on the optical disk, the drive circuit 34 can output a large error signal, i.e., a large drive power to the laser system 12 so that the lens of the laser system is rapidly moved so as to locate the focal point of the laser beam onto the signal track with a short time.

[0027] Therefore, when the system is in such a condition that the servo operation is in an active condition and the laser beam of the laser system stably trace the signal track on the optical disk, the system control circuit is set to generate an active drive power change signal 22 requiring that the drive power outputted from the servo system is not greater than the predetermined value set in the memory 46. On the other hand, when the servo system should be maintained in a linear response condition, for example during a predetermined period of time from a start of the laser beam tracing of the signal track on the optical disk, or for another predetermined period of time from change of the signal track to be traced, the system control circuit is set to generate an inactive drive power change signal 22 so that the drive power outputted from the servo system is not limited at all so as to allow the laser beam of the laser system to precisely and rapidly trace the signal track.

[0028] Turning to Figure 4, there is shown a more detailed block diagram of the drive power change circuit which handles the data in the length of 5 bits. In this case, the data 40 outputted from the loop filter 28 has the length of 5 bits, a most significant bit of which indicates the sign of the data or the direction of an error, and the other four bits of which are assigned to indicate the magnitude of the error.

[0029] The five bit data 40 from the loop filter 28 is inputted to a first five-bit input of each of a pair of multiplexors 54 and 56 which act as the input selectors 36 and 38. An five-bit output of the multiplexer 54 is coupled to the other five-bit input of the multiplexor 56, which is controlled by the drive power change signal 22 to output a selected one of the two five-bit inputs as a five-­bit output 52 to the digital to analog convertor 32. Further, four bits of the input data 40 excluding the most significant bit are inputted to a latch 58 functioning as the absolute circuit 42, and the content of the latch 58 is coupled to one input of a digital subtractor which functions as the comparator 44. The other input of the subtractor 60 receives a four bit data indicative of the predetermined value, from a memory 62 corresponding to the memory 46. The output of the memory 62 is also coupled to four bits of the other five-bit input of the multiplexor 54 excluding the most significant bit. The most significant bit of the other input of the multiplexor 54 is coupled to another latch 64 coupled to receive the most significant bit of the input data 40. Further, the subtractor 60 has a borrow signal terminal connected to a control terminal of the multiplexor 54 so that in response to the borrow signal the multiplexor 54 outputs a selected one of the two five-­bit inputs to the multiplexor 56.

[0030] Now, operation will be explained with reference to Figure 5 illustrating one example of the operation. The output of the detection circuit 24, which is a so-called tracking error signal or a so-called focus error signal, is sampled at a predetermined cycle and then converted into a digital signal, but here assume that the output of the detection circuit 24 is very roughly sampled for simplification of the drawing. Further, the analog to digital convertor 26 generates the five-bit data as mentioned above, the most significant bit of which is indicative of the sign. Namely, "0" shows that the error is zero or positive in the direction of error from a desired center value, and "1" shows that the error is negative in the direction of error. The other or lower four bits are indicative of the absolute value of the error. In addition, the memory 62 is set with "0111" as the predetermined value.

[0031] In synchronism with a clock ø1, the lower four bits of the output 40 from the loop filter 28 are latched in the latch 58 and the most significant bit is latched in the latch 64. In synchronism with another clock ø2, the subtractor 60 executes a substraction between the value held in the latch 58 and the predetermined value of "0111" from the memory 62 and generates a borrow signal when the predetermined value "0111" is smaller than the latched value. In response to the borrow signal, the multiplexor 54 selects the output of the memory 62 and the latch 64 and output the combined or sign-added predetermined value to the multiplexor 56. Otherwise, the multiplexor 54 selects the input data 40 and outputs it to the multiplexor 56. On the other hand, the multiplexor 56 outputs the output of the multiplexor 54 when the drive power change signal 22 is active and the input data 40 when the drive power change signal 22 is not active.

[0032] Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a block diagram of another embodiment of the servo system 14. The shown servo system has an analog type of loop filter which compensates the degree of amplification and the phase in a specified frequency region.

[0033] The output of the laser system 12 is supplied to a detector 70, which generates an analog error signal indicative of a deviation of the focus position from a proper position of the signal track on the optical disk. The error signal is fed to an analog loop filter 72. An analog output of the filter 72 is supplied to a drive power change circuit 74. This drive power change circuit 74 further receives the drive power change signal 22 from the system control circuit 20, and operates under control of the drive power change signal 22 to selectively output the analog output of the loop filter 72 as it is or in a limited fashion. The output from the drive power change circuit 74 is inputted to a drive circuit 76 for driving the laser system 12. Accordingly, a servo loop is constituted.

[0034] Turning to Figure 7, there is shown a detailed block diagram of the drive power change circuit 74 shown in Figure 6. In the shown circuit, the analog signal outputted from the loop filter 72 is fed through a resistor R1 to a non-inverting input of an operational amplifier 80. To the non-inverting input of the amplifier 80, a first diode D₁ is connected at its anode and a second diode D₂ is connected at its cathode. A cathode of the diode D₁ is connected through a switch SW₁ to an output of an operational amplifier 82, and an anode of the diode D₂ is connected through a switch SW₂ to an output of an operational amplifier 84. The switches SW₁ and SW₂ are on-­off controlled by the drive power change signal 22 from the system control circuit 20. Each of the operational amplifiers 82 and 84 has an inverting input connected to the output of the amplifier itself. Further, there is provided a voltage divider composed of three series-­connected resistors R₂, R₃ and R₄ connected between a positive voltage terminal V_CC and a negative voltage terminal V_EE. A connection node between the resistors R₂ and R₃ is connected to a non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 82 and a connection node between the resistors R₃ and R₄ is connected to a non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 84.

[0035] When the drive power change signal 22 is not active, the switches SW₁ and SW₂ are put in an off condition so that the analog signal 78 outputted from the loop filter 72 is inputted directly to the operational amplifier 80 and then outputted as an output analog signal 86 from the amplifier 80 to the drive circuit 76. On the other hand, when the drive power change signal 22 is active, the switches SW₁ and SW₂ are put in an on condition. In this condition, if the analog signal 78 outputted from the loop filter 72 is greater than the output voltage of the operational amplifier 82, the diode D₁ will cramp the voltage of the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 80 to the output voltage of the operational amplifier 82. On the other hand, if the signal 78 is smaller than the output voltage of the operational amplifier 84, the diode D₂ will cramp the voltage of the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 80 to the output voltage of the operational amplifier 84. Thus, the output analog signal 86 is limited to be within a voltage region determined by the output voltages of the two operational amplifiers 82 and 84, hence, by the voltage divider composed of the resistors R₂, R₃ and R₄.

[0036] Thus, similarly to the first embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, when the drive power change signal is not active, the input signal 78 is supplied to the drive circuit 76 without being limited. Namely, the drive power is not limited at all. However, when the drive power change signal is active, the analog signal supplied to the drive circuit 76 is limited within the predetermined range set in the voltage divider.

[0037] The invention has thus been shown and described with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the present invention is in no way limited to the details of the illustrated structures but changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An optical disk system comprising a laser system for optically reading a signal track on an optical disk by means of a laser beam so as to generate an electrical read-­out signal, a servo system receiving the read-out signal from the laser system for controlling the laser system so as to cause the laser system to trace the signal track on the optical disk, and means coupled to the servo system to selectively put the servo system either into a first condition in which a driving power of the servo system for controlling the laser system is limited not greater than a predetermined level or into a second condition in which the driving power of the servo system for controlling the laser system is not limited.

2. A system claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for selectively putting the servo system either into the first condition or in the second condition includes a detector coupled to receive an output signal from the laser system for generating an error signal, a loop filter connected to receive the error signal from the detector, a drive power changing cirucit coupled to receive an output of the loop filter and controlled by a drive power change signal to selectively output the received signal as it is or in a limited condition not exceeding the predetermined value, and a drive circuit receiving the output of the drive power changing circuit for driving the laser system.

3. A system claimed in Claim 2 wherein the loop filter is of an analog type.

4. A system claimed in Claim 2 wherein the loop filter is of a digital filter and further including an analog to digital convertor coupled between the detector and the loop filter and a digital to analog filter coupled between the drive power changing circuit and the drive circuit.

5. A system claimed in Claim 4 wherein the drive power change circuit includes:
      first and second selectors receiving at their one input the data outputted from the loop filter, an output of the first selector being coupled to the other input of the second selector, the second selector being controlled by the drive power change signal so that when the drive power change signal is active, the second selector outputs the output of the first selector to the digital to analog convertor and when the drive power change signal is not active, the second selector outputs the input data form the loop filter to the digital to analog convertor;
      an absolute value conversion circuit receiving the data from the loop filter to generate an absolute value signal;
      a comparator receiving at its one input the absolute value signal and at its other input a predetermined value stored in a memory for outputting the result of comparison to a control input of the first selector;
      a sign addition circuit receiving the output of memory and a sign signal indicative of a sign of the input data for generating a sign-added predetermined value to the other input of the first selector;
      whereby when the comparator judges that the input data is not greater than the predetermined value stored in the memory, the first selector outputs the input data to the second selector and, when the comparator judges that the input data is greater than the predetermined value stored in the memory, the first selector outputs the sign-added predetermined value to the second selector.

6. An optical disk system comprising a laser system for optically reading a signal track on an optical disk so as to generate an error signal; and a servo system receiving the error signal from the laser system for controlling the laser system so as to cause the laser system to trace the signal track on the optical disk, the servo system including an absolute value conversion circuit receiving the error signal from the laser system to generate an absolute value signal, a memor storing a predetermined value for limiting the servo drive power, a comparator receiving at its one input the absolute value signal and at its other input the predetermined value stored in the memory for outputting the result of comparison, a sign detection circuit coupled to receive the error signal from the laser system for generating a sign signal indicative of a sign of the error signal, a sign addition circuit receiving the output of memory and the sign signal for generating a sign-added predetermined value, and a first selector receiving at its one input the error outputted from the laser system and at its other input the sign-added predetermined value and controlled by the result of comparison from the comparator so that when the comparator judges that the error signal is not greater than the predetermined value stored in the memory, the first selector outputs the error signal as it is and, when the comparator judges that the error signal is greater than the predetermined value stored in the memory, the first selector outputs the sign-added predetermined value.

7. A system claimed in Claim 6 wherein the servo system further includes a second selector receiving at its one input the error outputted from the laser system and at its other input the output of the first selector, the second selector being controlled by a drive power change signal so that when the drive power change signal is active, the second selector outputs the output of the first selector, and when the drive power change signal is not active, the second selector outputs the error signal form the laser system.

Drawing